2024 truly belonged to the chronically online crowd—if you weren’t speaking in viral meme references, were you even online? Not very Demure of you friend. This year delivered a wild ride of internet-fuelled sensations (talk about diversity): from an adorable baby hippo melting hearts to the Challengers throuple turning up the heat in theatres, Glen Powell finally stepping into his it-boy era thanks to his son Brisket, and Central Park turning into a playground for Timothée Chalamet and Zayn Malik lookalikes.
And, of course, who could forget BRAT summer which is still not over? The chaotic energy of the Apple dance, Chappell Roan dominated with her viral debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, a standout Coachella performance, Megan The Stallain’s Watashi Wa Star defined a whole season of unapologetic hot girl vibes.
But the real headline moment? Stree 2 and Lapataa Ladies dethroning Animal on the box office and Netflix—an iconic, mother-level slay. Add to that Olympic medals and India’s thrilling Test series win, and 2024 proved it had no choice but to serve.
But if you belong to the crowd who haven’t caught up to most of it, I am making a guide from scratch for you (call me Nara Smith from now on):
1. Nara Smith-ification of the Internet
Love her or hate her, she was the moment of the year. With her couture outfits and super ‘extra’ marshmallow tutorials, Nara Smith became a viral sensation, sparking debates about gender roles and the bizarre mix of high fashion and food DIY.
2. Sabrina Carpenter Serving Espresso
That’s that she Espresso! Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso takeover was pure caffeine kick in the best way possible. The track dropped, and the internet exploded with dance challenges and memes, making Espresso the ultimate vibe of 2024. With its addictive beat and bold new sound, Sabrina brought that ‘main character energy’ and had everyone sipping on her musical drink.
3. Match My Freak
Tinashe’s Match My Freak lyrics took over social media, with viral reels featuring everything from dancing pets to nuns getting in on the challenge. In the end, we all wanted someone to match our freaks.
4. BRAT O’Clock
Charli XCX’s lime-green BRAT aesthetic sparked a whole summer of bold, party-ready vibes, especially thanks to the iconic Apple dance. Not her looking like an icon everywhere, oh so Julia of her.
5. The Challengers Heat
Zendaya and Luca Guadagnino’s tennis drama had everyone in a frenzy, from saucy edits to Zendaya’s method dressing that made us say TOLD YA.
6. The Paris Olympics And Paralympics
The 2024 Paris Olympics offered plenty of viral moments, including Mondo Duplantis clinching gold in pole vault and stealing the spotlight with a sweet PDA moment with his girlfriend, Desire Inglander. Another highlight was the camaraderie and intense competition between a Turkish and a Korean shooter, captivating fans with their sportsmanship and skill. And not to forget historic medals by our athletes. Especially India’s performance at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris was historic, with the nation securing its highest-ever medal tally of 29—comprising 7 gold, 9 silver, and 13 bronze medals.
7. Very Demure, Very Mindful
Beauty creator Jools Lebron’s etiquette-inspired makeup mantra got the internet back to basics, rediscovering the word demure like it was 1840. From JLo to Law Roach everyone joined the trend. Demure was named Dictionary.com’s 2024 Word of the Year.
8. Moo Deng and Pesto
Moo Deng, the cheeky baby hippo, and Melbourne’s record-breaking penguin, Pesto, became the ultimate mascot of fluff, spreading joy online.
9. Stree 2 and Laapataa Ladies Beating Animal
Stree 2 dominated the box office, outshining Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s misogynistic Animal in both popularity and critical reception. Meanwhile, Laapata Ladies, Kiran Rao’s social dramedy, cleared Animal in viewership, highlighting a growing demand for films that blend feminism and social commentary. F#ck the patriarchy.
10. Too Many Chalamets
From Timothée Chalamet to Paul Mesacal to our Gujju boy Dev Patel 2024 hosted hilarious celebrity doppelgänger competitions, proving everyone wants to be a star. And nobody is complaining.
11. It Ends With Us Promo Drama
Blake Lively’s floral-filled press tour for It Ends With Us became a viral topic for all wrong reasons, as fans debated the clash between the film’s heavy subject matter and its Barbie-code promotional style plus Justin Baldoni being the only one talking about the actual topics that matter.
12. Man In Finance
Megan Boni’s viral TikTok song about finding an “I’m looking for a man in finance, Trust fund, 6’5, blue eyes” was the bop of the year.
13. T20 World Cup
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India clinched a historic victory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, ending an 11-year drought and solidifying their place at the top of world cricket.
14. Man or Bear Debate
The debate on whether women would prefer to be alone in the woods with a man or a bear sparked a massive conversation about women’s safety and gender-based violence.
15. Payal Kapadia Making Her-story
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Lights, Camera and Cannes! Payal Kapadia made history with All We Imagine As Light, earning major accolades like the Grand Prix at Cannes, a Golden Globe nomination, and Critics Choice nods. Too much slay!
16. Drake vs Kendrick
The long-standing rap feud reignited with Kendrick Lamar’s viral diss track Not Like Us, making sure people are entertained even when the tension between the two is on fire
17. Glen Powell’s Takeover
Glen Powell became the breakout star of 2024 with major roles in Twisters and Hit Man, making sure his status as Hollywood’s next big thing is secured.
18. Diljit’s Global Era
From international collaborations to Coachella and Jimmy Fallon, 2024 was the year Diljit Dosanjh became a global icon. He made history as the first Punjabi artist to light up Coachella, and his electrifying set had the internet screaming ‘legend behavior.’ Then came his U.S. late-night debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where his performance of Born to Shine and G.O.A.T. was an instant vibe. If that wasn’t enough, his record-breaking Diluminati Tour took over North America, Europe, and Australia with sold-out arenas and fans living for every moment. P.S: Don’t forget Crew and Chamkila folks!
19. Big Dawg’s Big Moment
Hanumankind shook up the hip-hop scene in 2024 with his viral banger and ‘big dawg’ energy, topping the Spotify Global Top 50 over legends like Kendrick Lamar and Eminem. The Ganji-clad rapper from Kerala turned heads with his Squid Game Season 2 anthem, brought out A$AP Rocky on stage, and is gearing up for his acting debut in the Malayalam thriller Rifle Club.
20. Glicked
Yes, we are holding space for this one! The ultimate pop culture sensation of 2024, Glicked (a mashup of Gladiator II and Wicked: Part One) became the must-see double-feature of the year, taking the cinephiles by storm as Barbenheimer did in 2023.
21. Beyoncé: Does She Know?
The ‘Thank You, Beyoncé’ meme took over the internet, with fans jokingly thanking the superstar for everything from sneezing to completing chores, all while feeding into the ongoing conspiracy theories surrounding her. Also, mother Beyoncé was crowned no. 1 on Billboard’s Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century. Diva is truly the female version of the hustler.
22. Goodbye Ferrari, Hello Williams
Two goodbyes that made us cry. Carlos Sainz’s move from Ferrari to Williams sent shockwaves through Formula 1, as the Spanish driver prepared for a new chapter in his career, making way for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari.
23. Monsters Becoming ‘That Show’
Ryan Murphy’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story blew up in 2024, making true crime the latest obsession. The intense portrayal of the infamous case had everyone debating the brothers’ trials, and of course, Nicholas Alexander Chavez’s edits went off, completely taking over the Jacob Elordi Saltburn edits. It was the true crime drama everyone was glued to—chaotic, viral, and impossible to stop talking about.
24. APT.
Thanks to Miss Rosé of BLACKPINK and the legendary Bruno Mars, we got one of the 2024’s hottest bangers with their latest track, APT. This is the duo you never knew you needed but are so glad to see together.
25. Ananya Pandey Becoming Bae Of The Nation
The Gen Z star stole the spotlight as the ultimate bae everyone was rooting for in Call Me Bae. With its mix of drama, romance, and fashion moments, the show had fans hooked from the start, turning Ananya into a digital queen and a true pop culture phenomenon. If I may say, she’s a smarter, better version of Emily (IYKYK). Call Me Bae made her the talk of the town.
26. Dua Lipa Goes Bollywood
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Dua Lipa straight-up broke the internet at her Zomato Feeding India Concert in Mumbai. The global pop queen vibed with Bollywood by mixing her hit Levitating with Shah Rukh Khan’s legendary Woh Ladki Jo from Baadshah. And she didn’t just sing it—she slayed the original choreography, leaving fans shook.
27. Goodbye Era’s Tour
2024 marked the end of an era—literally. Taylor Swift wrapped up her record-breaking Eras Tour, smashing records with 149 shows and over $2 billion in earnings, reminding the world once again why she’s a cultural icon.
28. Luigi Mangione: All Over Our Feed
Explaining the brief: Luigi Mangione’s arrest in connection with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson should be the story everyone’s focused on, but let’s be real—the internet has completely hijacked it. Mangione has become the latest symbol of the ‘Eat the rich’ movement, and people are flooding social media with manipulated photos trying to create alibis for him, because, why not? Somehow, he’s gone from murder suspect to internet heartthrob. The memes are relentless. He’s now dubbed the ‘mugshot hottie,’ and in a bizarre twist, some are even calling him ‘too hot to convict.’
At this point, the murder is almost secondary to the question of what Mangione is wearing in his mugshot. Is this a commentary on how we process serious news in the age of social media, or are we just getting distracted by a pretty face? Either way, the internet’s ability to turn tragedy into a viral trend is both troubling and amusing.
29. Substance and Anora For The Oscars
Did that celeb take the substance? Guess we’ll never know, but one thing’s for sure: 2024’s most talked-about films were Substance and Anora. Both sparked major buzz across social media and film festivals. Substance gripped audiences with its raw, intense narrative and powerhouse performances, while Anora dazzled with its perfect mix of humor and vulnerability moments, keeping viewers hooked. Both films became cultural touchstones, with standout performances from the women who stole the show. The Oscars better don’t disappoint us.
30. Lastly, Brain Rot
After public consultation, Oxford University Press announced its Word of the Year for 2024—brain rot. Defined as the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging, this term clearly understood the assignment.
